Mr. Kihoon Jin is a veteran diplomat and international affairs expert with over three decades of experience in foreign service, global diplomacy, and intergovernmental cooperation. He currently serves as Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee for the 2026 Daegu World Masters Athletics Championships, leading efforts to host one of the world’s premier international sporting events. Mr. Jin’s distinguished diplomatic career began after passing the Republic of Korea’s 25th Foreign Service Examination in 1991. Over the years, he held several key overseas postings that strengthened Korea’s bilateral and multilateral relations across Asia and Central Asia. These include roles as Consul in Shanghai (2009), Deputy Consul General in Chengdu (2011), Deputy Representative in Taipei (2014), and as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Afghanistan (2015) and Turkmenistan (2018). Through these assignments, he played a vital role in enhancing Korea’s global diplomatic footprint and advancing national interests in complex regional contexts.

From 2021 to 2023, Mr. Jin served as International Relations Ambassador for the Daegu Metropolitan Government, where he leveraged his extensive diplomatic background to expand global partnerships and promote Daegu as a hub of international exchange. In June 2024, he was appointed as Secretary-General of the 2026 Daegu World Masters Athletics Championships, where he is now tasked with overseeing the strategic planning and global coordination of this large-scale international sports event.

Mr. Jin holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in International Relations from Seoul National University and earned a second Master’s degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University in the United States. His academic training, combined with his deep field experience and diplomatic insight, positions him as a key figure in Korea’s efforts to foster international collaboration through both diplomacy and sports diplomacy. With a career that spans continents and disciplines, Mr. Jin continues to contribute to Korea’s global engagement through leadership, dialogue, and service.